- Fifth Week at No. 1: Lionsgate/Universal’s Michael Jackson biopic Michael reclaimed the top spot on the U.K. Official Film Chart through August 19.
- Sci-Fi Resurgence: Amazon MGM Studios’ Project Hail Mary, starring Ryan Gosling, climbed back up to No. 2 in its tenth week on the chart.
- Top New Entry: Universal’s Minions & Monsters scored the week’s highest new entry at No. 4, following its $493.2 million global box office run.
- Studio Sweep: Universal Pictures held down a dominant showing, capturing 50% of the week’s top 10 best-selling physical and digital titles.
The success of Michael just keeps on keeping on. The latest accomplishment? According to Mediaplay News, the film has secured its fifth non-consecutive week at No. 1 on the U.K. Official Film Chart for the week ending August 19, continuing a massive sales run across digital and physical formats.
Behind Michael is Amazon MGM Studios’ sci-fi hit Project Hail Mary made a strong push back up to No. 2 in its tenth week on the chart. The film, starring Ryan Gosling as an amnesiac astronaut tasked with saving humanity, continues to demonstrate long-tail staying power on home video.
RELATED: Lionsgate Eyes Late 2026 Filming Start for ‘Michael’ Biopic Sequel After $1B Milestone
During an after-market call with financial analysts, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Adam Fogelson outlined early production targets for the highly anticipated sequel. “While we are not ready to announce everything at the moment, I would tell you that we are targeting a production start towards the end of this year and early next, and think that somewhere between the end of calendar 27 and the first half of calendar 28 would be a current thought of roughly where the movie could go,” said Fogelson.
”The heart of MICHAEL is Jaafar Jackson. With no prior acting experience and 2 years of preparing for the role, he delivers one of the most extraordinary debut performances ever witnessed,” writes Decked Out VP Andrew Greene. “Only a real Jackson can play a Jackson, and Jaafar proves that in every scene. It’s been said before, but bears repeating, he doesn’t just imitate his Uncle Michael, he becomes Michael Jackson. He is absolutely sensational, a revelation who depicts the beautifully special, vulnerable, and mega‑talented character of Michael Jackson perfectly.”
Featured Photo: Lionsgate
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